Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated D. K. Shivakumar on taking oath as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka and assured full cooperation from the Centre for the state's welfare and development.
"Congratulations to Shri D.K. Shivakumar Ji on taking oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka. Best wishes for his tenure," PM Modi said in a post on X, adding that the Centre would work closely with the Karnataka government for the progress of the state.
Shivakumar was sworn in at a ceremony held at the Glass House in Bengaluru's Lok Bhavan premises, where Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy. Holding a copy of the Constitution, Shivakumar invoked the name of his spiritual guide, Sri Veera Gangadhara Swamiji, while taking the oath.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Thirteen ministers were also sworn in, with former Home Minister G. Parameshwara taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister.
Among the notable faces inducted into the first phase of the Cabinet were Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah and former Speaker U. T. Khader.
Meanwhile, leaders across party lines extended their greetings to the new Chief Minister. Karnataka BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra congratulated Shivakumar and expressed hope that the new government would work towards the protection of Karnataka's land, water resources and language while ensuring inclusive development.
Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy also conveyed his best wishes, saying he hoped Shivakumar would use the opportunity to implement people-centric initiatives and contribute to Karnataka's development.
The congratulatory messages are significant as Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy have often been political rivals and have engaged in sharp exchanges on several issues in recent months.
